Suspect in Scandia horse shooting released, investigation continues

A Scandia man suspected of shooting two horses that were being boarded on his farm was released from jail Wednesday without being charged. Investigators say the case remains open.

William Henry St. Sauver, 30, was arrested Monday as he was reportedly burying the animals in the middle of a cornfield on his family's farm.

The horses belonged to Gloria Fritz, who said she'd been keeping the pedigreed saddlebred mares there temporarily.

Gloria Fritz stood and watched as her two prize American Saddlebred mares were pulled from a half-dug grave in a Scandia cornfield Monday. The horses were allegedly shot and killed.
(Pioneer Press: Liz Mohr)

Fritz said St. Sauver called her Sunday and told her the horses had been shot by deer hunters and that he had buried them. But when she and Washington County sheriff's deputies went to the farm Sunday, there were no signs of blood or a fresh burial site, Fritz said.

When officers returned to the farm Monday morning, they reportedly saw St. Sauver on a tractor trying to cover the horses.

He was booked on suspicion of damage to property, obscuring an investigation and cruelty to animals. His 36-hour hold expired at noon Wednesday.

The horses were taken to a University of Minnesota veterinary clinic for necropsies. The sheriff's office executed a search warrant at the St. Sauver farm Tuesday.

Washington County prosecutors said Wednesday they were waiting for lab results.